From His Heart

[Judy Harder]

Change My Heart, O God!

Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that He may come and shower righteousness upon you."
Hosea 10:12 NLT

When I was in college, I learned to play the guitar.  At first, I could only play for a short while because my fingers tips were sensitive and continued pressing of the strings was painful.   After a couple of weeks, the tips of my fingers became calloused and insensitive to the pain ... so calloused and insensitive in fact that I accidentally ran them across my razor one day as I was digging through my overnight bag.  I did not even feel it until it was too late and the cuts were made.   

In the same way finger tips can get calloused and hardened, so too can our hearts.  Although we can see God do great and mighty things in our midst, if we are not careful, we can get hardened and deceived by sin and become insensitive to God's still small voice.  Has that happened to you?     

King David allowed his heart to get hardened.  He committed terrible sins ... and then covered those sins over with deceit.  As a result, his life was drying up on the inside.  His vitality and zest for living were melting away like a sno-cone in Phoenix.  But in Psalm 51, he repents and gets his heart right with God.  He says in verse 17, "The sacrifice You want is a broken spirit.  A broken and repentant heart, O God, You will not despise."  Spiritual renewal and fresh fire from heaven only come when the heart is first broken and repentant before a holy God.

YOUR HEART CONDITION?

Is your heart soft and tender and broken before the Lord ... or is it like hard ground?

There is only one thing that hardens your heart: sin.  And only one kind of sin: your sin.  My sin cannot harden your heart, and your sin cannot harden my heart.  Personal sin is what brings the callousness.  And the longer we continue in personal sin without getting honest, open and repentant before the Lord, the harder our heart becomes.

If you want to see how hard your heart is, ask yourself this question: Do the things that break God's heart break my heart?  God's heart breaks over sin, does yours?  God's heart breaks over pride and selfishness, does yours?  God's heart breaks for those who are lost and on the highway to hell, does yours?  God's heart breaks over broken vows, does yours?  God's heart breaks over injustice, indifference, abuse, abortion and sexual immorality, does yours?       

Maybe like me, you need to heed the call of God through the prophet Hosea and ask the Lord to plow up the hard ground of your heart.  Ask Him to change you and open your eyes to any bitterness and pride and sin and selfishness that may be lurking within you.  Ask Him to make your heart like His.

The time is now to seek the Lord—and to seek Him with a broken heart.  We will be amazed at the awesome things He will do when we get our hearts in line with His.

[Judy Harder]

Going .. Going ... Gone?

Have you ever been to an auction? I haven't actually ever attended one, but I have seen many of them portrayed on television and in the movies. When the bidding reaches its climax, the auctioneer often says, "Going ... Going ... Gone! With that last "gone," he raps his gavel and that particular item is up for grabs no longer.

AMERICA UP FOR GRABS

I believe our nation and the very fabric of what has made America great for these last 200+ years is "going ... going ... gon ..." I believe we are one vowel away, so to speak, from seeing our nation completely disintegrate before our eyes. For untold decades, Bible students have wondered why America, the most powerful and affluent nation in the world (at least we used to be), would not be mentioned in Bible prophecy. Hmmm ... I think now we can begin to see the reason.

While it is easy to lament the fall of morality, a strong work ethic, and basic common sense with regard to economics and national security, it is important to note that the answer to our problems will not come from the White House ... it will come from the Church House. God's people hold the key that can turn this nation around for God and for good.

GOD BLESS AMERICA?

God tells us in 2 Chron. 7:13, "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people ..." Would we not all agree that we are living in a day where the blessings of God are being withheld in America? The news is filled with devastating reports of corporate cutbacks, job losses, unemployment, bankruptcies, bailouts, disease outbreaks, devastating natural disasters, and mind-boggling national indebtedness. Truly, the land is being "devoured" as I type this paragraph.

We like to sing "God Bless America" ... but how can He? We are kicking God out of every arena of American public life. Ronald Reagan hit the nail on the head when he stated, "If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." How arrogant we are to ask for the blessings of God while refusing to submit to or acknowledge the God of the blessings.

THE GOOD NEWS

With all the bad news, there is some good news ... actually, it is great news. On the heels of the curses of 2 Chron. 7:13 comes the promise of 2 Chron. 7:14, "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Without question, God responds to the repentance and prayers of His people. If the Christians in America will get right with God and white hot with passion for the Lord Jesus Christ (lukewarm Christianity is a disgrace to grace), THEN AND ONLY THEN will we see God hear, forgive and heal our land.

The auctioneer's gavel is coming down fast on America. The last "GONE!" is about to be uttered. But God's people can make the difference. We can speak up and direct our hearts back to God. Will you join me in praying for America? God will hear and answer if we will stand in the gap and call on His name from a humble, contrite heart.

Love,

[Judy Harder]

Are You Listening, God?

And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness.  Acts 4:31

Have you ever prayed about something and it seemed like God was not listening?  Have you ever gotten discouraged in prayer and started thinking it was a waste of time?  Trust me, it is not.  Prayer is the key that moves the heart and hand of God.  The Bible says, "You have not because you ask not" (James 4:2).

HOW TO GET GOD TO ANSWER YOU

There are several prerequisites to answered prayer:

1.  Your heart must be right.  God will not answer your prayer if your heart and life are full of unconfessed sin.  The Bible says, "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear" (Ps. 66:18).  God does not reward rebels ... and unconfessed sin is rebellion against God and His will in your life.  One of the first things we should do when we pray is ask God to show us any sin in our lives that needs to be dealt with.  "Search me, O God, and know my heart... and see if there be any evil way in me" (Ps. 139:23-24) is a good prayer to pray before you bring your needs to God.

2.  Your faith must be engaged.  "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Heb. 11:6).  God tells us in James that if we pray in doubt, we do without.  God longs to answer you when your heart is right with Him.  Do you believe that?

3.  Your requests must line up.  Prayer is not badgering God into doing something He does not want to do.  It is not overcoming His reluctance ... it is getting in on His willingness.  When the early church prayed in Acts 4, the place was shaken.  God answered in mighty power.  Do you know why?  Because they prayed according to His will.  They prayed for what God wanted to do.  John says, "And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14).  And when God hears us, He answers us.  He shakes the place with His answer.       
Be honest, are your prayers for His glory, or for your glory?  Do you only pray for your safety and ease and comfort ... or do you pray for boldness in the face of adversity and opposition so that you can be a strong witness for Jesus?

My friend, God really does long to answer us.  He longs to shake our lives with mighty responses from heaven.  He delights in blessing us and giving good things to us.  He longs to heal and work signs and wonders in our midst (Acts 4:30).  But let us never forget the bigger picture – reaching people for the Kingdom of God.  If our prayers are not aligned and focused on the good of the Kingdom, they are out of sync with His will.
   
A GOOD PRAYER TO PRAY

Regardless of the adversity and problems you may be facing today, here is a good prayer to pray:  "Lord, I want my life to count for Christ.  I want to make a difference for the Kingdom of God.  Jesus, this day I am signing all of my life over to your lordship.  My marriage ... my children ... my job ... my possessions ... my reputation ... my future ... my everything.  It is all yours to do with whatever you please.  Use me today, guide me today, bless me today, and put Your hand upon me so that I can be a bold witness and a great blessing to others. In Jesus' name, amen!"

That prayer, prayed from a pure heart, will move the heart and hand of God.  Make it a part of your day ... and see Him shake your life with His answers.


Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries

[Judy Harder]

God's Truth or the Devil's Lies?

And you shall know the truth; and the truth shall make you free. -- John 8:32

This is election year. We will be hearing lots of speeches and debates. Two candidates are vying for your precious vote, each telling us they have the right answers to our problems, and they will make things better if you vote them in.  The big question: Who is telling the truth?

In life, there is a daily election so to speak, a choice you and I must make: do we listen to the voice of God, or do we listen to the voice of the devil. God is a loving God who speaks truth ... and the devil is a murderous thief who speaks lies. The choice seems pretty obvious, right?

Well, the sad reality is this: the vast majority of people choose the devil's lies over God's truth. Even Christians tend to believe the devil's lies over God's truth much of the time. Why is that?

FEELINGS

When God tells you what is true, the problem with believing His Word is your feelings. Your feelings line up with the devil's lies, not God's truth.

For example, suppose John Q. Christian succumbs to temptation and engages in some kind of sexual immorality. After the sin is committed, guilt and shame come into John's life like a flood. When John repents and confesses his sin to God to seek forgiveness, the feelings of guilt and shame don't instantly disappear. He gets off his knees still feeling so dirty, condemned, and separated from God. (I mean, after all, how could God have fellowship with someone who just did what John did?)

At that moment, the devil moves in and whispers, "You are not forgiven. You make God sick. He is not going to have anything to do with a person like you. Get real here. Have you forgotten what you did? How disgusting are you! And you have the audacity to call yourself a Christian? You are a total hypocrite, a failure, a loser, and the worst of the worst. I wonder if you are even saved, John Q. Christian."

All of those things are lies ... but they feel so true, don't they?

Remember this: Truth is not what you think or feel. Truth is what God says ... and God says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). All – even sexual immorality, or abortion, or lying, or theft, or whatever.

God wants us to walk by faith, not by sight or by feelings. And faith is simply believing His Word—regardless of how you feel—and acting upon it.

May you and I choose every day to believe God's truth over the devil's lies. God is for us, not against us. He has a good plan for us, and He wants us to walk in joy, peace, and power.

I vote, God. How about you?

Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries

To read additional devotionals click here.

Jeff Schreve is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 20 years and are blessed with three wonderful girls. Jeff began From His Heart Ministries, a radio and television ministry, in January of 2005. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no salary from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.

[Judy Harder]

God's Truth or the Devil's Lies?

And you shall know the truth; and the truth shall make you free. -- John 8:32

This is election year. We will be hearing lots of speeches and debates. Two candidates are vying for your precious vote, each telling us they have the right answers to our problems, and they will make things better if you vote them in.  The big question: Who is telling the truth?

In life, there is a daily election so to speak, a choice you and I must make: do we listen to the voice of God, or do we listen to the voice of the devil. God is a loving God who speaks truth ... and the devil is a murderous thief who speaks lies. The choice seems pretty obvious, right?

Well, the sad reality is this: the vast majority of people choose the devil's lies over God's truth. Even Christians tend to believe the devil's lies over God's truth much of the time. Why is that?

FEELINGS

When God tells you what is true, the problem with believing His Word is your feelings. Your feelings line up with the devil's lies, not God's truth.

For example, suppose John Q. Christian succumbs to temptation and engages in some kind of sexual immorality. After the sin is committed, guilt and shame come into John's life like a flood. When John repents and confesses his sin to God to seek forgiveness, the feelings of guilt and shame don't instantly disappear. He gets off his knees still feeling so dirty, condemned, and separated from God. (I mean, after all, how could God have fellowship with someone who just did what John did?)

At that moment, the devil moves in and whispers, "You are not forgiven. You make God sick. He is not going to have anything to do with a person like you. Get real here. Have you forgotten what you did? How disgusting are you! And you have the audacity to call yourself a Christian? You are a total hypocrite, a failure, a loser, and the worst of the worst. I wonder if you are even saved, John Q. Christian."

All of those things are lies ... but they feel so true, don't they?

Remember this: Truth is not what you think or feel. Truth is what God says ... and God says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). All – even sexual immorality, or abortion, or lying, or theft, or whatever.

God wants us to walk by faith, not by sight or by feelings. And faith is simply believing His Word—regardless of how you feel—and acting upon it.

May you and I choose every day to believe God's truth over the devil's lies. God is for us, not against us. He has a good plan for us, and He wants us to walk in joy, peace, and power.

I vote, God. How about you?

Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries

[Judy Harder]

Chick-Fil-A, Chicago and America

Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.  -Luke 13:3

Dan Cathy of Chick-fil-A is a sold-out Christian who stands up for God and His Word.  His business is second to none.  He speaks the truth in love ... and for that he is being vilified as a hate monger and anti-American.  Amazing.

Here is what Rahm Emanuel, the Mayor of Chicago recently said:  "Chick-fil-A's values are not Chicago values. They're not respectful of our residents, our neighbors and our family members. And if you're gonna be part of the Chicago community, you should reflect Chicago values," Emanuel said Wednesday.

Chicago Alderman, Joe Morena, added this:  "Same sex marriage, same-sex couples — that's the civil rights fight of our time. To have those discriminatory policies from the top down [Dan Cathy on down] is just not something that we're open to. ...We want responsible businesses."

So, it seems Dan Cathy's biblical values regarding marriage are irresponsible and out of touch with the people of Chicago.  Hmmm.       

WHAT DOES GOD SAY?

When it comes to values, the ones that count are God's.  God defines marriage and morality, right and wrong.  Without question, a person or a society can choose to reject God and His out-of-date standards ... but the Bible gives clear warnings about the consequences associated with doing so. "For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You" (Psalm 73:27). 

Sodom and Gomorrah rejected God's moral code, and it didn't go so well for them.  Their smoking ruins serve as an example to those who want to follow in their footsteps.

"... and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly thereafter ..."   2 Peter 2:6

CAN YOU HANDLE THE TRUTH?
 
God LOVES people, all people ... no matter what terrible things they have done.  Jesus died for everyone, and His blood can wash clean "the vilest offender who truly believes."  But there is something we MUST understand about God:

He does not and will not embrace sin, whatever that sin may be. 

There can be no salvation without repentance – turning away from sin and self, and turning to the Lord.  Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

America desperately needs to repent and turn back to God and His standards of right and wrong before it is too late.  We are on a collision course with judgment as we arrogantly try to rewrite the moral standards for our nation.

Alexis de Tocqueville, the great French historian and political thinker of the 1800's, visited America in the 1830's on a mission to discover the secret of her greatness.  The following insightful comment has been attributed to him:

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers - and it was not there ... in her fertile fields and boundless forests and it was not there ... in her rich mines and her vast world commerce - and it was not there ... in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution - and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.

If we repent, we will find the grace, forgiveness and healing of God.  If we don't ...


Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries

[Judy Harder]

Failure is Not Final

For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again.  Proverbs 24:16

A few years ago, we bought a Garmin GPS unit for my daughter, Amy.  Like her dad, she was not blessed with a good sense of direction.  We knew Garmin could help her with that challenge.

One day, Amy, Debbie and I were traveling together with Garmin leading the way.  Unfortunately, I missed a turn ... and Garmin let me know.  She could have said, "You missed the exit, moron.  You are going to have to turn around."  But, Garmin is very polite and encouraging.  When you miss an exit, she doesn't berate you, she just says this important word, "Recalculating."  That means, you messed up, but let me find a new route to get you where you need to go.

GOD IS LIKE GARMIN

When it comes to our lives, God is a lot like Garmin.  He guides us through His Word and prayer.  And if we get off course, He lets us know it.  Thankfully, He doesn't beat us up and throw us out.  He gently, lovingly says, "Recalculating." He wants us to walk with Him and go in the right direction of His will and His ways.   

How awesome to know that failure (missing "a turn" in life because of selfishness and sin) is not final.  No matter how badly you may have messed up your life, you can get back on track with God.  He graciously recalculates His route for you so that you can go on with Him.

WHERE ARE YOU TODAY?

Have you missed your turn with the Lord?  Are you hearing Him say, "Recalculating," but you are tuning Him out?  Remember this: "In His presence is fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11).  When you go in the right direction with God, you experience His presence, peace and joy.  "Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land" (Psalm 68:6).

The time is now to get back on track with the Lord Jesus Christ.  He hasn't given up on you.  Just like Garmin, no matter how many wrong turns we make, He keeps recalculating so that we can walk with Him, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

Will you heed His voice today and let Him guide you?  He is good and only wants the best for you.  The rebellious dwell in a parched land ... but the obedient dwell in the Promised Land.  The time is now to be obedient and enter in to the joy of your Master.


Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries

[Judy Harder]

Going through the Motions ... or Living the Life?

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  John 1:4

One Sunday, I had an interesting conversation with a man who was visiting our church.  He was very excited about the service.  He said to me, "This church is not like my church.  This church is alive.  This church just feels different!"  I thanked him for his comments and explained to him what he felt in the church was the manifest presence of God.  The living God is among us!  That is what makes all the difference.   

Not too long ago, I ran across an insightful quote from George Whitefield, the great revivalist of the 1700's.  God used this British evangelist to shake America in the late 1730's and early 1740's.  Upon returning to England after one of his trips to America, Whitefield made this sobering statement, "I am greatly persuaded that the generality of preachers talk of an unknown, unfelt Christ.  And the reason why congregations have been so dead is because dead men preach to them."  What a terrible indictment ... and so true!   

I believe there are multitudes of dry, lifeless churches in America where preachers tell people of a Jesus they don't even know and never really seek.  They often preach "feel good sermonettes" that lack the Word of God, the fear of God, and the power of God.  The result is a dull and boring religious service that is void of life, vitality, and the manifest presence of God.  The Hebrew word to describe many churches today is Ichabod – "the glory has departed."  How sad.       

CHECK YOUR LIFE

Is your life alive with the glorious presence of God?  Do you talk about an unknown, unfelt Christ ... or do you really know Him, love Him, and see Him working in your life each day as you seek to do His will with all your heart?

If you are living a lifeless, joyless, powerless "Christianity," the time is NOW to trade it in on the real thing.  The Bible says of Jesus, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4).  The Lord wants you to have LIFE, not religion.  He wants to fill you with His joy, peace, and power.

Peter told the crowd in Acts 3:19, "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." Humble your heart before God and ask Him to forgive you and be real to you.  Tell Him you are tired of going through the motions of religion and you want LIFE!

He will answer that prayer.  He wants to refresh your soul.  Don't wait any longer.  Start living the life Jesus died for you to have ... a life overflowing with the manifest presence of God.   

Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries
To read additional devotionals click here.
Jeff Schreve is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 20 years and are blessed with three wonderful girls. Jeff began From His Heart Ministries, a radio and television ministry, in January of 2005. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no salary from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.

[Judy Harder]

What Are You Doing with Your Opportunities?

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.  Galatians 6:10

Opportunities.  They are all around us.  Opportunities to make a difference in the lives of people.  Opportunities to minister to someone who desperately needs a word of encouragement, a listening ear, a hug of care and concern, and sometimes even material assistance.

AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

This week, I encountered a dear lady who was helping me at the doctor's office. I was feeling terrible and just knew I had the worst cold known to man (well, maybe not quite that bad).  As she took my vital signs and asked me how I was doing, I felt impressed to ask her how she was doing.  After a long pause and a few composure-gathering swallows she said, "Okay."  It was pretty obvious she wasn't okay.

Before she left the exam room, I asked her if there was anything in her life that I could pray about.  That question opened the flood gates for her to share her heart and her hurt, her doubts and her fears.  I prayed for her right there, and gave her a big hug, and told her to know that God loves her.  He knows what is going on, and He will be with her every step of the way.  He is El Roi, one of the great names for God which means, "You are the God who sees [me]."  God sees us in our times of distress and fear ... and will take care of us as we trust Him (see Genesis 16).

EXPERIENCING JOY AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE

It has well been said that J-O-Y comes when your life is focused on Jesus first, others second, and you last.  When you and I use our lives to brighten the life of another, it gives such great meaning and purpose to our days.

The Bible says that we are Christ's ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). We are His representatives on earth.  Our citizenship is in heaven ... and we are merely strangers and aliens on this earth.  But we are here for a specific purpose: to make a difference in the lives of people for Jesus Christ.  We are here to be His witnesses, to lighten the load of those who are hurting, losing hope, and needing to connect with the God who sees them and loves them.

Here is a question for you to honestly and soberly consider: Are you really experiencing joy and a sense of purpose in your life?  If not, could the reason be that you have lost sight of the two greatest commandments—to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself?  Remember, the acrostic J-O-Y.  If you start out with Y (you first), you won't experience it.

THE PRAYER GOD LONGS TO ANSWER

Think how different your life could be if you started out each day with this sincere prayer: "Dear God, help me to be sensitive to the people You will put in my path today, people who need a word and a touch from You through me.  Help me see the opportunities all around me to make a difference in people's lives for Christ, to ease their burdens and let them know You are El Roi, the God sees them and will take care of them if they will simply trust You."

May you experience His joy as you focus on your calling—to be His ambassador in this world until He calls you home. 


Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries

[Judy Harder]

Do You Have the Right Foundation?

And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand.  Matthew 7:26

One of the world's famous landmarks is an eight-story cathedral bell tower located in Pisa, Italy.  The tower is famous for one embarrassing reason: it leans approximately 4 degrees, resulting in a whopping 12' 10" departure from vertical at the very top.   

Work on the tower began in 1173.  According to Wikipedia, "The tower began to sink after construction had progressed to the second floor in 1178. This was due to a mere three-metre foundation, set in weak, unstable subsoil, a design that was flawed from the beginning."

Why does the tower lean?  For the simple reason of a bad foundation.

SO MANY SAND BUILDERS

Jesus told a parable one day about fools who build on the sand and wise men who build on the rock.  Sand builders are those who take the path of least resistance.  Why?  Because it's easier ... it feels good ... it provides instant gratification.  The sand builders get their houses up in no time.

The rock builders, on the other hand, have to work hard and dig deep and clear away all the sand.  It is tough sledding building on the rock ... but it's worth it.

In the parable, the rains and storms and problems of life came to both houses.  The rock builders were safe and secure, but the sand builders were swept away.  Their demise was terrible and tragic and catastrophic.  The worst of it was this: it didn't have to be that way.  They could have chosen to build on the rock.

BUILDING ON HIS WORD

What is a rock builder, anyway?  It is a person who listens to the Lord's Word and acts upon it.  It is someone who sets his value system not on the shifting sands of conventional wisdom and political correctness, but on the timeless truths of the Word of God.

A rock builder says, "Lord, Your ways are right concerning everything.  What you say is the foundation for me and my house.  I will obey You and live my life according to Your Word."   

Therefore, a rock builder is not debating in his mind if sex before marriage is "ok" if you love each other.  He is not basing his moral understanding of homosexuality on his gay friend who is so nice and kind and claims he was born that way.  He is not divorcing his spouse because he is unhappy and his marriage is really tough right now.  He is not compromising with sin because it's fun and exciting ... and everyone else is doing it.     

No, a rock builder is someone who takes God's Word seriously and yields to Jesus as Master and Lord of all.  And that person lives a life that (1) pleases God, (2) is filled with the goodness of God, and (3) stands strong in the storms.

Let me ask you, and be completely honest: Are you building on the rock or on the sand?  Choose wisely because the rains are coming one day.

Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries